Fact vs. fiction: the truth about snakes

They are often very misunderstood and, over the ages, have been given a bad name. But let’s review the facts.

With the warmer spring weather, the possibility of seeing a snake outdoors could occur. But don’t completely freak out or panic. Why, you might say?

Let’s review the true facts and myths. First of all, we are too big for our native snakes to eat. Contrary to some science fiction films, snakes native to Texas are too small to consume humans. Unless you are dealing with a huge released exotic python or anaconda, our native king snakes, rat snakes and venomous snakes cannot eat you!

Contrary to local myths, snakes will not chase you down. Why would a snake chase something much larger than itself? Would you chase down a huge heavyweight boxer or martial arts master? An unwise decision should you choose to do so!

Contrary to popular belief, snakes usually don’t travel in pairs or groups and don’t “nest” together. The only time in southeast Texas you might see more than one snake in one place is during spring mating season or under old boards and pieces of metal, where they can thermoregulate.

You can tell if a snake is venomous by the shape of its head and the shape of the pupils in the eyes. This is false. Hognose snakes have a wide, broad head yet are not venomous to humans. Coral snakes do not have the cat-eye, elliptical-shaped pupils.

Now for some true facts applying to snakes. Several species of snakes in Texas consume mice and rats. One of the major causes of house fires is mice and rats chewing on electrical wires in your ceiling or walls. Snakes control mice and rats and don’t chew on your wires.

Rats and mice are known disease carriers that can transmit these diseases to humans. The plague was carried to North America by rodents from Europe. Snakes eat rodents, therefore decreasing the chance of rodent-transmitted diseases to humans.

Most of the species of snakes in Texas are non-venomous. Learn the few species that are venomous and the rest do not carry venom.

If you see a snake, do not risk being bit by picking it up or trying to kill it with a stick or shovel. This especially applies to the many non-venomous snakes that live in our area. The closer you get to a snake the better chance you have of being bit. If you leave it alone, it will go its own way. Non-venomous king snakes can actually feed on certain venomous species.

Remove all old wood, metal sheets, logs or brush piles from around your home. These places provide places for snakes to hide and to find food such as rodents, toads and lizards.

Rat and king snakes are a farmer’s friend. They consume rodents that eat crops. Less rodents equate to more crops and lower food prices.

If by chance or accident you are bitten by a snake, try to identify what kind it is. Take a cell phone picture to document what type it is. Stay calm and travel to a local emergency room if you suspect the bite is from a venomous snake.

You don’t have to love snakes. Just understand they are on our earth for a reason. Educate yourself and you will be much safer when you are outdoors in Texas.